As we move into the cold season, we’d like to give drivers some winter maintenance tips for getting through the freezing cold temperatures without incident. Follow these tips to stay safe this winter season.

If you’re using all-season wiper fluid, it’s possible you’re at risk for a nasty surprise when it accidentally freezes on your windshield. Opt to replace your usual wiper fluid with a winter-grade kind.

Keep Your Tank Full

You never know when you’ll have an emergency on your hands, so don’t let your gas tank get too low in the colder months.

Check Your Tires

Cold temperatures cause tires to lose pressure faster. Plus, you should also make sure your treads are deep enough to brave slippery roads.

Pack an Emergency Kit

Emergencies happen, so make sure you have supplies like blankets, water, flashlights, and jumper cables on hand in case you end up stuck.

Follow these winter maintenance tips to get your car ready for hazardous weather conditions in the cold months!

For the past decade or so, Ford and Chevrolet have been collaborating on new transmissions designed to deliver more power while using less fuel. Ford has already been showing off the fruits of these labors now that the brand’s 10-speed transmissions are debuting in Ford’s lineup, but Chevrolet recently unveiled a new efficient transmission that’s bound for the Malibu, Cruze Diesel model, and the new Equinox. It’s reportedly going to be a nine-speed automatic.

Chevy representatives told the media that the new transmission, which is likely to eventually replace the current six-speed, will boost fuel economy 2%. While that number doesn’t necessarily sound very high right now, that’s a statistic that will add up over time. It’s also another step towards achieving the goal of better efficiency in the face of tightening government standards and restrictions regarding automobile fuel economy.

One of the most interesting things about the new efficient transmission from Chevy is that, while it has 50% more gears to support smoother shifting and engine stop-start systems, it is roughly the same size of the current six-speed automatic transmission and will only add 22 lbs to the vehicle, preserving fuel economy and performance even further. The 2017 Malibu already offers the new transmission, while the Cruze Diesel and 2018 Equinox will have it as an option next year.

Car service is important. It extends the life of your vehicle while also ensuring that your vehicle is operating safely, smoothly, and efficiently. This is why it’s vital to make sure that your vehicle is receiving the best service possible.

One of the easiest ways to ensure good car service is to take your vehicle right back to the dealership from where you got it. Car dealership service centers are staffed with trained professionals who specialize in specific makes.

The benefits of car service at a dealership are numerous. When you bring you vehicle to a dealership for service, you can rest assured that they will know all the ins and outs of your model. Plus, dealerships offer discounts for service that you won’t find anywhere else.

Sometimes, when you buy or lease a vehicle at a dealership, you are entitled to service packages, making dealership service an even better option for you. Before you take your vehicle anywhere else, it’s best to see if any deals apply to you at your local dealership.

For more information about servicing your vehicle here at Joe Holland Chevrolet or to make an appointment, you can check out the Service section of our website, here, or you can stop by and visit us, anytime!

Adopting a pet can be a wonderful experience for families or individuals. However, if it’s your first time bringing home a dog, cat or another furry friend from the humane society, it can be a little daunting. How do you provide the best care for your new pet and make it an easy transition? Follow these four key tips for adopting a pet for the first time to make your experience the best one possible.

Be Prepared

Before you pick up your pup or kitty, make sure you’ve educated yourself on the basics. Read up on training methods, exercise routines and food options. Figure out what you think will be best for your new pet and make a shopping trip for the basics—food, bowls, a collar and leash and a bed.

Be Courteous

Animals are capable of experiencing stress just like we are, and your new pet will no doubt find the transition stressful. Keep this in mind for the first week or two. Give your dog or cat space and allow them to adjust. Avoid causing any extra excitement like guests, interaction with other animals, or travel.

Be Consistent

Start a routine with your new pet right away. Check with the shelter to see what kind of eating schedule your pet has been on, and if you intend to change it, do so gradually.

Be Flexible

Know that your can spend hours planning for the moment you bring your new furry friend home, but it probably won’t go as perfectly as planned. Your pet may not take to the food you’ve chosen for it, or may not want to lay in its bed right away. Make sure you are working with your pet, and not against it. Be patient and consistent, and your pet will learn to trust you and love you in no time.

As fall rolls in, it’s time for families and friends to plan their holiday road trips. School is in session, which means lots of driving around for students and parents. Meanwhile, gas prices continue to fluctuate, but even at the lowest cost, buying gas is always a drag. Use these gas saving tips to help you cut down on the cash you spend on fuel.

Slow Down

There’s nothing that says you have to be the head of the pack when that light turns green. Easy acceleration uses less gas than putting the pedal to the metal. On the other end of the spectrum, braking suddenly is also a gas guzzler. It’s more efficient to let yourself slow gradually. And, unless you’re as late as Alice’s white rabbit, drive the speed limit. Just cutting down on your highway speed by 5 mph can make a big difference in gas usage.

Practice Good Maintenance

In general, a good car maintenance routine will ensure that you’re getting the most mileage to the tank. Regular oil changes and engine check ups are an important part in making your car work smarter, not harder. You should also get in the habit of checking your tire pressure each time you fill up. Properly inflated tires will maximize your mile to the gallon.

Cool Down the Right Way

There’s one myth that says the air conditioning in a car will always use up lots of gas. This is true in some cases, like if the car is left idling. In that situation, or if you’re doing city driving, opt for windows down. But, when it comes to cruising on the highway, windows down will cause enough wind resistance to increase gas usage. At higher speeds, go for the AC.

The 2017 Chevrolet Volt is the latest model of the affordable plug-in hybrid sedan. Boasting a battery range of 53 miles and a total range of 420 miles, there’s little doubt this car is perfect for long trips. With most drivers traveling more than 1,000 miles between fill ups with regular charging, the Chevrolet Volt is incredibly popular for its fuel economy. 1,000 miles is a lot of ground to cover, which is why the Volt comes with a host of available top safety features.

Safety technology is all the rage in the modern automotive market and for good reason. Not only does safety technology save lives, it can also help prevent collisions altogether. The Volt’s available Lane Keep Assist does this by adjusting the steering wheel if a driver starts to drift out of their lane without a turn signal.

Parking lots can be a hazard in and of themselves, which is why Rear Cross Traffic Alert warns drivers if there’s a vehicle approaching from either side when reversing from a parking space.

Forward Collision Alert and low-speed Front Automatic Braking go hand-in-hand to help prevent collisions altogether. If the driver fails to react to a slow-moving vehicle, the system will hit the brakes to help reduce the damage done or avoid the collision altogether.

Combined with the standard 10 air bags, a lightweight frame, and OnStar Automatic Crash Response, the Chevrolet Volt is one of the safest cars on the road.

Magnetic Ride Control is designed to offer a smooth, comfortable ride while also offering track-ready handling, all in one single suspension system. Now in its third generation, Magnetic Ride Control originally debuted in the 2002 Cadillac Seville STS, and it’s now more versatile than ever before.

Underpinning the newest Chevrolet Corvette and Camaro, Magnetic Ride Control is known among enthusiasts as the most advanced suspension system on the market. Here’s a quick breakdown of how it works from us here at Joe Holland Chevrolet.

In order to adjust to the road, Magnetic Ride Control uses an Electronic Control Unit and multiple sensors to read every bump, crack, and abnormality in the road. As a result, the system can read the road up to 1,000 times per second and adjust the shock absorbers accordingly. The end result is improved ride quality and enhanced handling while simultaneously reducing vibrations.

The shock absorbers are filled with a polymer fluid that’s packed with magnetized iron particles. Thanks to the electromagnetic coils wrapped around the shock absorbers, the fluid can change its viscosity instantaneously. Once the particles detect an electric charge, they can change state from a free-flowing liquid to a dense rubber-like solid. As a result, drivers can experience a smooth, relaxing ride on the open road or take their car to the track and push it to the limit.

We know you have a lot of great options available to you when considering buying a new pickup. Trucks are more high-tech, more capable, and more reliable than ever—but one brand stands out. Here are five reasons why you should buy a Chevrolet truck.

Chevrolet offers not just the popular full-size Silverado, but also the excellent, mid-size Colorado. Both trucks come with a variety of cab sizes, truck bed lengths, and engine options.

Tons of features. In both the Colorado and Silverado lineup, buyers will find no shortage of features, from a built-in CornerStep bumper to Bluetooth connectivity.

With so many engines to choose from, buyers can find the perfect balance of power and efficiency for their trucking needs.

Technology abounds in the Chevrolet truck lineup. Features like the available 4G LTE Wi-Fi make it easy to turn your truck into a mobile office space.

Both the Colorado and Silverado wear a chiseled exterior that shows off their capabilities. Inside, buyers will appreciate the high-quality materials and purposeful design. The large buttons and controls are easy to use, even while wearing work gloves.

It has been over a month since West Virginia was hit by the worst flood in a century. However, West Virginians are still in a state of recovery—many without homes to return to. If you want to donate any supplies to help support those victims, you can drop them off here at Joe Holland Chevrolet. All materials donated will go directly to West Virginia flood relief.

Some of the most needed items include water, toiletries, cleaning supplies, batteries, diapers, baby food, baby formula, and non-perishable food items. In addition, families with pets are in need of bags of dog and cat food. The website West Virginia Flood keeps an updated list of the most needed items. As of July 20th, urgent needs include box fans, leather gloves, goggles and safety glasses, wheelbarrows, and garden sprayers.

Nothing says summer fun quite like a trip to an amusement park. One of the best parks in the country is located just three hours from South Charleston—Kings Island in Mason, Ohio. If you want to plan a road trip to Kings Island, here are a few things you need to do.

Tickets. Make sure you buy your tickets before you go. There are numerous online deals available so you can save a ton. Much better than paying gate prices.

Overnight stay. While you could make the trip there and back all in one day, you’ll likely be exhausted after a full day at the park. There are numerous hotels located just next to the park. You could even stay at the Great Wolf Lodge, which has its own indoor waterpark.

Clothes. You’ll be doing a lot of walking and waiting all day long. Make sure you wear comfortable shoes and clothes.

Sun protection. Spending hours walking in the sun can not only leave you feeling worn out, but could leave you burned. Bring sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat to keep you cool and protected.

Have you ever been to Kings Island before? What is your favorite ride or attraction?